Cushion wheel



G. WALTHER.

CUSHION WHEEL.

FILED MAR 24 1921 i Mar. 6, 1923.

R m E W.

HTTORNEYS Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

GEORGE WALTEER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

cusnron WHEEL.

Application filed March 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,077.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WALTHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushion Wheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to cushion wheels and in particular to cushion wheels having air spaces located between the tire and the mm.

The object of my invention is to provide a cushion wheel having a cushioning element with a plurality of apertures therein and means for controlling the exit of the air to and from said apertures so as to form a secondary cushioning element in addition to the resilient element, such as rubber, which is usually employed. It is the present practice to provide cushioning elements of this character but no provision is made for controlling the entrance and exit of'the air in the apertures when the cushioning element is brought under compression. That is the purpose of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig.1, is a side elevation of a wheel partially in section. The section is taken on the line aa of Figure 2;

Fig. 2, is a section on the line bb of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a hub of a cast steel wheel, upon which are mounted a plurality of spokes 2 having hollow outer ends 3. The spoke ends merge into a rim 4. The rim is divided circumferentially by a gap 5 in its periphery. As I have shown it, but it is not essential, this gap is broken by bridges 6 over the spoke arches. Within this gap 5 in a trough 7 formed in the rim 4:, and supported by the shoulders 8, is a ring 9 that fits loosely in this trough. Adjacent the ring 9 are small holes 10 communicating with the air space 11 formed in the cushioning element 12. There are a plurality of these elements each of which communicate with the hollow spoke end 3 through the apertures 10 and the loose fitting connection between 9 and the rim 4. This permits of the exit and entrance of air from the chamber 11 to the hollow spoke end 3. The exit of air is restricted, however, by the small apertures through which it must pass so that the air acts'as a cushioning element in addition to the cushioning element of the rubber.

Before all of the air in the chamber 11 could be exhausted, the pressure thereon is relieved as the Wheel will have turned and the wall will have been placed upon another portion of the cushioning element so that we have a succession of shock absorbing or cushioning effects due to the restricted exit of air from each one of these successive air chambers formed in the resilient cushioning element 12. The side walls of the cushioning element are sealed by the vertical rings, preferably of resilient material, designated 13. Upon the resilient cushioning element 12 and the side rin s 13 embracing the upper portions of those e ements is a ring 14' with downwardly extending side members 15. A rib 16 is provided, centrally located in 14:,

extending into an aperture 17 in the resilient member 12. This rib serves to strengthen the member 14: upon which is mounted a rim l8 and a tire 19. The inner face of the resilient member 12 rides upon the rim 4. and its side walls as well as the sides of the sealing members 13 are embraced between the upstanding wall 20 and the detachable upstanding ring 21, thus completing a unitarv structure.

ile I have shown and described certain features as constituting my invention, it will be understood that parts have been shown for purposes of illustration only, and that I do not desire to be limited to such details, as obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, hub, spokes and rim, a cushioning element mounted on the rim, a plurality of air chambers in the cushioning element, means on either side of said cushioning element for sealing said air chambers, a non-resilient ring with integral downwardly extending walls adapted to em brace the sealing means, a rim mounted on said ring, a tire mounted on said rim, and means for restricting the passage of air from the air chambers in said cushioning element whereby a cushion wheel is provided.

2. In combination, a Wheel, with hollow spokes and a rim, a peripheral aperture in said rim, a ring loosely mounted in said peripheral aperture, a plurality of air chambers in a cushioning element adjacent said loosely fitting ring, a cushioning element, and a tire mounted thereon, whereby the air from said air chambers is restricted in its passa e therefrom between said ring and said IlIIl where they loosely fit together.

3. In combination, a wheel, with hollow spokes and a rim, a peripheral aperture in said rim, a ring loosely mounted in said peripheral aperture, a plurality of air chambers ina cushioning element adjacent said loosely fitting ring, a cushioning element, a the mounted thereon, and exit apertures in said rim communicating with said air chambers, whereby the air from said. air chambers is restricted in its passage therefrom between said ring and said rim where they looselly fit together.

4. n combination, a Wheel with hollow spokes and a rim, a lurality of apertures locatedin said rim a jacent said open ends of the spokes, a ring loosely fitting on shoulders formed on said rim adjacent said apertures, a plurality of apertures in said rim adjacent thereto, acushioning element having a plurality of air chambers therein adjacent said apertures in said ring, resilient sealing members on either side of said cushionin element sealing the walls of said air cham ers, means of retaining said cushioning element and sealing members on one side of said rim, and a detachable retaining means on the other side thereof, a ring mounted on said cushioning element having retaining walls on either side thereof, and a rim with a tire thereon mounted on said ring, whereby said cushioning element and In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

GEORGE WALTHER. 

